Rich Goucher 
The NEAR traveling Racing show moves into the Seekonk Speedway this Saturday, June 18, 2022. Sportsman and Modified heats and features are on tap as well as afternoon practice. Sign in is at 1 p.m. Get on down to one of the best bullrings in the country!
NEAR is off to Thunder Road Speedbowl in Barre, Vt. this Thursday, June 16, 2022. Sign in will be at 12:00pm and it is a points/running show. Per the track all NEAR registered membership cars/driver are free, no plus one for this event. 3 hour track time (12:00-3:00) plus Features-Sportsman and Modified. See you all there!
This Saturday, June 4, 2022 NEAR will have it’s first running event of the season. We’re off to Riverside Action Park in Groveton, N.H. for a pit entrance at 12 noon and racing to start around 6 p.m. Sportsman and Modified classes will run. Adequate track time is available between 12 and 3 p.m to work out the winter bugs. If you have not yet paid your 2022 NEAR Membership, you must before being allowed to enter. Forms will be available at the track. We anticipate 2 entrances free per car. See you there!
New England Racers Reunion presented by Wall’s Ford and the Northeast Classic set for April 16th
The New England Racers Reunion will feature a variety of vintage and modern race cars for outdoor display at the North East Motor Sports Museum (922 Route 106, Loudon, NH) on Saturday April 16th. In addition the event will feature five exhibits from New England racing museums. These exhibits will showcase unique auto racing memorabilia and artifacts from around the region. All types of race cars from any year are welcome to display and local tracks and sanctions are encouraged to attend to promote your upcoming season’s races. In the afternoon make sure to check out all the feature racing action at the Northeast Classic on the New Hampshire Motor Speedway oval.
Museums committed for display include the Ron Bouchard Museum, ProNyne Motorsports Museum, Ollie Silva Museum, New England Antique Racers and the Maine Vintage Race Car Association. Race car clubs that will have multiple cars on display include Senior Tour Auto Racers, Atlantic Coast Old Timers and the Wicked Good Vintage Racing Association. Cars on display will roar to life with our traditional gentlemen start your engines at noon.
The Stanley Museum of Kingfield Maine will also be on site with an operational Stanley Steamer steam car. The Stanley Museum has graciously offered to take guests for a ride in the steam car for a $20 suggested donation per passenger, kids free. The money raised from the rides will be split between the Stanley Museum and the North East Motor Sports Museum.
The 2022 best appearing race car awards will once again be presented by Wall’s Ford at 1:30pm. The museum is asking for a $20 donation for each race car that would like to display. This donation also includes two free tickets to view the museum the day of the event. The awards given out will be the following.
Best of Show
Best Appearing Open Wheel Race Car
Mary Lima Best Appearing Modified
Best Appearing Stock Car Race Car
Best Appearing Drag Race Car
Best Appearing Road Race Car
Join us on Saturday April 16th from 9:00am to 1:30pm for the New England Racers Reunion. The museum will be open for viewing from 9am till 4pm. The North East Motor Sports Museum is the largest motor racing museum in New England and displays 30+ regionally historic race cars and motorcycles. Exhibits change on a yearly basis so there is always something new to see.
Admission to view the outdoor show is $5 per adult at the front gate with museum members admitted free. Admission to view the indoor museum is $10 for adults with kids under 12 free to view both outdoors and indoors. As always museum members view the museum for free. You can become a member of the museum the day of the event. An onsite food truck will be available and we will have a 50/50 raffle. The event is a fundraiser for the North East Motor Sports Museum, a 501-c-3 educational nonprofit organization. A rain date is set for Saturday April 23rd.
Once you have finished at the museum make sure to check out all the high speed racing action at the NHMS oval. Triple 50 lap feature events are on tap for ACT Late Model Tour, PASS Super Late Models and the Modified Racing Series, as well as support division action. All of this wheel to wheel feature racing excitement is set to start at 12:30pm at the Magic Mile.
If you have questions about the event or displaying your race car call 603-783-0183.
From Pete Newsham—–She was an awesome team player with NEAR for many years
2004 Charlie Stebbins award recipient…2011 Dan Pardi award …RIP Rhonda, and thank you!
Rhonda Mae Blanchette (Seller), 65 of Panama City Beach passed away peacefully on February 13th. Rhonda was born in Southington, CT and resided there until 2019 when the beaches started to call her name. She is predeceased by her parents Robert and Rachel Seller (Goetchus). Rhonda spent her career working for several banks working her way up from teller at Southington Savings Bank at the age of 16 to Tax Officer/IRA compliance, Vice President of Key Private Bank. She was a member of Frederica Chapter #110, O.E.S. based out of Plainville, CT and served as treasurer and board member for the New England Antique Racers for many years. She was an avid gardener and lover of sea turtles and hibiscus plants. She leaves behind her loving and caring husband Gerry Blanchette of Panama City Beach, her son Robert Blanchette and his girlfriend Melody Neal of Panama City Beach, her daughter Megan Blanchette of Old Orchard Beach, ME, her brother and sister-in-law Rod and Kris Seller of New Britain, CT and her special feathered friend Rocky. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Rhonda’s name to the Hope Regional Cancer Center 2900 South Highway 77, Lynn Haven, FL 32444.
NEAR NORTH/SOUTH SCHEDULE
FOR 2022 EVENTS
June 4 Sat Riverside Spdwy Groveton, NH
Sign-in: 3PM Points/Running
June 16 Thurs Thunder Road Barre, VT
Sign-in: 12 NOON Points/Running
Three hour track time [12 to 3]
June 18 Sat Seekonk Spdwy Seekonk, Ma
Sign-In: 1pm Points/Running
June 24 Fri Claremont Spdwy Claremont, NH
Sign-in: 5 PM Points/Running
July 16 Sat Northeastern Spdwy Waterford, VT
Sign-in: 8 to 9AM Points/Still/Parade
July 23 Sat Bethel Motor Spdwy White Lake NY
Sign in: 1pm Points/Running
Aug 6 Sat Monadnock Spdwy Winchester, NH
Sign-in: 3PM Points/Running
Aug 12-13-14 VAE Car Show Waterbury, VT
Sign-in: 9AM Points/Still/Parade
Aug 20 Sat Bear Ridge Spdwy Bradford, VT
Sign-in: 12 NOON Points/Still/Parade
**Tentative**
Aug 27 Sat Waterford Speedbowl Waterford,CT
Sign-in: 1pm Points/Running
Sept 24 Sat Plainville Reunion Berlin Fairgrounds CT
Setup: 8 AM show 10-2 Points/Still
Oct. 1 Sat Pines Speedway Reunion Groveland,Ma
Sign in 10:00 AM Still
** ALL DATES AND EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE**
**EVENTS MAY STILL BE ADDED**New England Antique Racers
Dates still not decided: Danbury Reunion, Hof Banquet
Legendary modified pilot Mike Stefanik, NEAR Hall of Fame Member, will be inducted tonite, Jan. 21, 2022 into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Congratulations to his family, friends, and fans who have waited a while for this well deserved recognition!
Bio done October 24, 2016 by Judy Poirier
It is with great sorrow that we must announce the passing of Steve Zukowski Steve was one of NEAR’s biggest supporters. He drove the truck to many events, showed and raced his car, did car shows, and was just a great member and representative of our club. When we receive arrangements we will announce them. Godspeed, racer!!
If you visited Westboro Speedway “back in the day” – which was a high-banked 1/4 mile paved oval located in Massachusetts that ran from 1947 through 1985 – you might have seen our NEAR colleague Steve Zukowski, competing at one of his favorite tracks in his Chevrolet Vega #53. Steve started his racing career in 1960, he joined NEAR in 1998 and is the original owner/driver of the #53; which you could still see at the Vintage races today.
Other tracks Steve competed on included: Stafford Speedway, Riverside Park, Seekonk Speedway, Lakeville Speedway (Middleboro, MA), Thompson Speedway, Riverside (Groveton, MA), Hudson Speedway (NH), Brookline Speedway (NH), Star Speedway and Waterford Speedbowl.
The numerous car owners Steve drove for are some of his most memorable moments in racing; some include #78 owner-Nelson LeCleir (driving a ’50 Ford), #78 owner-Ron Langiven (driving a ’53 Ford), #17 owner-Ina Smith (driving a ’47 white Caddy – nicknamed the Joker), #21 owner-Don Silberman, #11 owner-Tony St. Angello, and #25 Coupe owner-Dave Johnson (Steve’s son-in-law).
As a Crew Chief, Steve worked on the #26 Bush North D.W. Toys Racing Team for 4 years, with Scott Bonley as the wheel-man; and then for the #94 Team with John Lesniak as the driver.
Wearing the “hat” of Head Mechanic, Steve worked on the #14 Bush North Ken Bouchard Team; and as a “Body Man”, Steve worked on the Al Becker and Ken Bouchard Team at Westboro; and then on the Red & White Movers, Ron Bouchard’s Team at Westboro and Seekonk Speedways.
Steve received the “President’s Award for Oustanding Service to NEAR February 27th – March 1st, 2015”, at the March 17, 2015 New England Antique Racers (NEAR) monthly meeting. Steve represented NEAR with his daily presence and displaying his car at the Frank Maratta Auto Show & Racearama in the Eastern States Exposition Center in West Springfield, MA; encountering one of the many New England winter snow storms.
With this kind of resume you could almost guess, Steve has been affiliated with automobiles since 1957 in Used Car Sales and Repairs. He always has a racing experience to share, if you just want to sit down and talk “racing”.
By Judy Poirier
